nd exercise basic
freedoms of speech and conscience. The terrorists see individuals as
objects to be exploited, and then to be ruled and oppressed.

Democracies are not immune to terrorism. In some democracies, some
ethnic or religious groups are unable or unwilling to grasp the
benefits of freedom otherwise available in the society. Such groups can
evidence the same alienation and despair that the transnational
terrorists exploit in undemocratic states. This accounts for the
emergence in democratic societies of homegrown terrorists--even among
second- and third-generation citizens. Even in these cases, the
long-term solution remains deepening the reach of democracy so that all
citizens enjoy its benefits. We will continue to guard against the
emergence of homegrown terrorists within our own Homeland as well.

The strategy to counter the lies behind the terrorists' ideology and
deny them future recruits must empower the very people the terrorists
most want to exploit: the faithful followers of Islam. We will continue
to support political reforms that empower peaceful Muslims to practice
and interpret their faith. We will work to undermine the ideological
underpinnings of violent Islamic extremism and gain the support of
non-violent Muslims around the world. The most vital work will be done
within the Islamic world itself, and Jordan, Morocco, and Indonesia,
among others, have begun to make important strides in this effort.
Responsible Islamic leaders need to denounce an ideology that distorts
and exploits Islam to justify the murder of innocent people and defiles
a proud religion.

Many of the Muslim faith are already making this commitment at great
personal risk. They realize they are a target of this ideology of
terror. Everywhere we have joined in the fight against terrorism,
Muslim allies have stood beside us, becoming partners in this vital
cause. They know the stakes--the survival of their own liberty, the
future of their own region, the justice and humanity of their own
traditions--and the United States is proud to stand beside them. Not
only will we continue to support the efforts of our Muslim partners
overseas to reject violent extremism, we will continue to engage with
and strengthen the efforts of Muslims within the United States as well.
Through outreach programs and public diplomacy we will reveal the
terrorists' violent extremist ideology for what it is--a form of
totalitarianism following in the path